Should my exhaust headers glow?
 

Forgive a 660 n00b a dumb question, but should the headers of my new XT660R really be glowing a deep red at tickover? None of my other bikes have ever done so, but I'm new to FI, new to big water-cooled singles, new to the XT.

Here's some video. For some reason my phone's camera saw blue, but it's a deep red in person.

Mine do on the Tenere and my KTM RC8. Might be useful for lighting a fag if your matches are damp!

I have never had that happen. How long was the bike idling without moving?

It is normal if the XT is idled for long periods.

Less than five minutes. Long enough for me to zip up my jacket, get my plugs in, lid and gloves on. It also got its glow on within a minute or so of getting home last night.

No temp warnings, obviously.

I was thinking last night, there's every chance I've had sports bikes that did this and I just never noticed because of the full fairings.

Have raised your CO?

I have idled mine longer than that (in summer even) before an oil change with no signs of glowing headers. I don't want to be a worry-monger but I would say that was not normal. Let's see what others think.

I have owned 80 bikes in the last 17 years, the only bike that ever did this was an air-cooled BMW that was stuck in rush-hour traffic in Auckland and was crawling along at low speed for an extended period.

(Worse case scenario, if your head is not cracked or the timing out,) yes big singles do have hot exhausts.....even my little Ducati single was hot............................................... ................................................. I sold in 1984 FOR �275!!!!!(i needed the dosh to pay the rent) No-one wanted one then, I originally was asking �500!!!!!!! At that era everyone wanted a Yam 2 stroke!!!!! Now my mission is to get back together with a Duc 350 1972/MK3/. Its going to cost me tho.......


But glowing....Check it out<<

I haven't touched it, no. This bike has 500km on it, I wasn't planning on touching anything until after the initial 1000km service.